Molding and sealing cap for pipes



Dec. 1, 1959 M. J. LEE 2,914,832

MOLDING AND SEALING CAP FOR PIPES Filed Sept. 10, 1956 INVENTOR MYRO/V J LEE F/aa U gm ATTORNEY United States Patent 4 3 MOLDING SEALING CAP FOR PIPES Myron J. Lee, Wilmington, lll. Application September 10, 1956, Serial'No. 608,877

1 Claim. (Cl. 25-118) This invention relates to a cap for pipes, and it particularly relates to caps to seal the openings in pipes during the course of construction of a building.

In constructing a building, the piping for circulation of water, air, heat, and the like is often laid down prior to actual construction. This is especially true in regard to buildings where there is no basement but where a concrete slab forms part of the foundation. In such construction, the piping system is assembled in the ground and the slab is then poured thereover. Since the pipe outlets to which the various utilities are later to be connected would obviously become clogged during the pouring of the concrete, it is necessary to provide a temporary plug for such outlets which, although effectively sealing the outlets during the pouring of the concrete, are capable of being easily removed after the concrete hardens.

In addition to the above, the cap is useful in sealin the pipes from debris, dust and other foreign objects which tend to permeate the atmosphere during building construction.

The cap should also be capable, if possible, of adapting itself to various sizes and shapes of pipes so that a single type cap can have substantially universal utility.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a cap which will be. capable of effectively sealing pipe openings of various sizes and shapes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap which effectively seals the pipes from dust, dirt, debris and other foreign objects.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap which is reusable time and again.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved cap, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a cap embodying the present invention, the cap being shown in operative position on a pipe.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cap shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cap shown in Fig. l.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a pipe 10, having an open end 12, which extends from the sand and fill 14 upwardly to a level above the level cf the floor of the building to be constructed. Surrounding this upper end of the pipe is a cap, generally designated 16, forming an embodiment of the invention. The cap 16 is illustrated as hav' ing been placed in position on the pipe, after which the concrete slab 18 was poured around it. I

The cap 16, itself, comprises a sleeve 20 having a side wall comprising an inner surface 22 of generally straight, cylindrical, formation and an outer surface 24 the open bottom 26, is of relatively narrow, wedgeshaped formation which enables it to be more easily fitted onto the pipe. j

At its upper portion, the cap 16 is provided with a closed end 28 from opposite sides of which extends a pair of wedge-shaped flanges 30. Each flange 30 extends laterally from the sleeve in opposite directions, this lateral extension being defined by flat bottom surfaces 32. At their upper ends, the flanges merge with a handle 34 positioned above the closed end 28.

On the inner surface 22 of the sleeve 20 there are provide an annular series of guide ribs 36, these ribs being spaced from each other in an annular direction. Each rib 36 extends the length of the sleeve 20 from the lower rim to the upper closed end, and is preferably provided with an inwardly and upwardly beveled lower end, as at 38, in order to effectuate an easier insertion of the sleeve over the pipe. These ribs 36 are integral with the sleeve 20 which, in turn, is preferably integral with the flanges 30 and handle 34.

The Whole integral unit is preferably constructed of a flexible or resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber or one of the various synthetic resins such as polyethylene. By this type of construction, not only does the cap provide an eflicient seal for the pipe but may also be stretched to fit pipes of various different sizes or shapes. The integrally-formed ribs 36 also act, in this manner, to snugly and securely engage the pipe.

In operation, the cap is placed over the open pipe end with the flanges 30 in such position that they will extend slightly below the upper surface of the concrete slab to be poured, as indicated in Fig. l. The slab is then poured and allowed to harden. After the construction of the building has progressed to the desired point, the flexible cap is pulled off the pipe and removed therefrom. The areas defined by the lower portions of the flanges '30 are now slight recesses in the concrete. These recesses insure enough room for bolts in the floor flange which is now inserted around the pipe in the area formerly occupied by the sleeve portion of the cap. In this connection, it should be noted that the length of the sleeve 20 should be made long enough to extend as deep as necessary to insure a good fit for the floor flange.

Although this. invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A pipe end closing and spacing former cap for temporarily covering the open end of a pipe about which a slab of concrete or other aggregate is to be poured and for forming a floor flange receiving space about the open pipe end, said cap comprising a somewhat flexible sleeve having one end open to extend about the sides of the pipe end and the other end closed to extend over the open end of the pipe, said sleeve having a tapered side wall area tapering from a relatively thin rim defining said open end to a relatively thick wall portion at the closed end, a plurality of longitudinal inwardly extending ribs on said sleeve providing pipe end gripping means spacing said sleeve from the sides of the pipe end, said ribs being spaced annularly from each other, the ends of said ribs adjacent said open ends of said sleeve being inwardly and upwardly beveled to fa;

cilitat placing saidcap over the pipe end, a handle extending from diametrically spaced points at the closed end of said sleeve, and a pair of oppositely extending lateral flanges adjacent to but spaced from said closed end for forming floor flange bolt receiving recesses in the slab, said flanges extending from opposite ends of said handle.

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES .PATENTS 1,788,101 Gates Jan. 6, 1931 4 Shoop Apr. 18, Ingram Jan. 18, Weston Sept. 29, Bateman Aug. 27, Seddon May 16, Bradley Oct. 31, Ferguson 2 May 8, James Apr. 22,

Van Litsenb,urg v.. Oct. 23, Heeb Mar. 26, 

